New Certification Aims to Recognize Top Stroke Centers

A new level of certification from the Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is designed to recognize the specific capabilities of hospitals that can treat the most complex stroke cases.

The Advanced Certification Program for Comprehensive Stroke Centers aims to help health care organizations focus on the care processes that produce the best outcomes for complex stroke cases. The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association anticipate that, over time, municipalities and regions will develop a formal referral network so the most complicated stroke cases can be treated at the centers best equipped to provide the specialized care that can lead to the best possible outcomes for patients. The organizations anticipate that there may be more than 200 certified comprehensive stroke centers in the US within the next few years.